Nothing costs quite so much as an NFL quarterback, and each year it seems the costs go up. The Redskins and Rams raised the stakes to levels never before seen with the trade that sent the second overall pick in the NFL draft to Washington with three first-round picks and a second-round pick going to St. Louis.
That’s what has been reported, at least, by several outlets. The trade will not be official until Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Nor is it known what the Browns offered the Rams to move up from the fourth spot. The team said Saturday it would not comment on the proposed trade, or on the pursuit of Robert Griffin III.
Different outlets have reported differing offers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Browns offered three first-round picks and were considering a second-rounder. SI’s Peter King said three first-rounders, but no second-round choice.
Saturday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, quoting Rams sources, said the Browns only got as far as their two first-round choices in April’s draft — and the second choice was added late in the discussions. The Post-Dispatch said more could have been offered, but details were not known.
The Browns remained silent.
But a day after Tom Heckert, the team’s general manager, called some of the media reports on the trade “crazy” came word that the Browns were in the midst of pursuing the deal.
Now the Browns are in a pickle because current quarterback Colt McCoy is aware the team is looking to upgrade.
That leaves the team looking at free agents and possible free agents or draft picks that do not have the excitement or cache of Griffin.
Matt Flynn jumps out as the first option. The Packers backup has been rumored to be coveted by the Browns, to the point that the Browns were disappointed he played the season finale while Aaron Rodgers rested. Rodgers has opined that the team that gets Flynn would be getting a top-15 quarterback, which if true would be a definite upgrade.
Heckert said the team would not “go crazy” in free agency, and it was unlikely to go after a big-money quarterback. He also spent time dissing big-money free-agent signings, saying a team doesn’t win that way.
This is the same guy who said there wasn’t much to all the reports about the Rams trade.
Perhaps plans can change. With Griffin out of the picture Flynn might be the best option, which might prompt the Browns to change their thinking on big-money free agents, provided they’re comfortable giving $40 million or $50 million to a guy who has two career starts.
The other free agent quarterbacks are a bunch of Jason Campbells and Kyle Ortons, with one exception: Kevin Kolb could be released by Arizona. If he goes on the market, Heckert could be tempted to bring the guy he drafted in Philadelphia to Cleveland.
In the draft the top options remain Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M and Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State. Neither are Andrew Luck or Griffin, but both have ability and the Browns have talked up both recently.
Would either of them excite the faithful? If they win … but coming out of the draft it’s tough to see fans celebrating Weeden with the 37th pick at the most important position on the team.
The Browns' other options are to build the slow and steady way. Fill in the roster with good players and McCoy might look better, provided he stops throwing all those six-yard passes and stops rolling right every time he doesn’t find a receiver.
The fourth pick now comes down to three guys: cornerback Morris Claiborne, wide receiver Justin Blackmon and running back Trent Richardson.
The Browns are believed to be high on Claiborne, and the tandem of him and Joe Haden would be a positive for the defense. The problem is Claiborne stops touchdowns, he doesn’t score them. The Browns need people who can score, which brings Blackmon and Richardson into play. Blackmon seems especially intriguing given he and Greg Little could be a young duo who could grow. If a veteran could be added as a No. 3, all the better.
The 22nd and 37th picks could also provide solid players — a right tackle, depth on the defensive line, another running back if Blackmon or Claiborne is taken. Add a couple more wise and reasonable free agents, and the Browns could be better.
They just wouldn’t have the guy everyone considers elite.
Griffin was the guy with the charisma who would have changed the entire vibe of the team. The Browns didn’t want to give up the future to get him and that’s a decision that can be fairly defended. Three first-rounders is a lot to surrender for one player.
But when it comes to a quarterback, it might be worth it, especially if Griffin is everything he’s made out to be. The Redskins are projected to be $30 million to $40 million under the cap this offseason, so they can supplement their roster with free agents. The Browns are also expected to be in a good cap situation.
It could have worked. It just didn’t.
